The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

This Statutory Instrument has been made in consequence of defects in S.I. 2012/1483 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

Statutory Instruments

2021 No. 1129

Social Security

The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2021

Made

7th October 2021

Laid before Parliament

11th October 2021

Coming into force

8th November 2021

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 131(3) and 133(1) and (2) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(1).

In respect of provisions relating to housing benefit, in accordance with section 176(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(2) the Secretary of State has consulted with organisations appearing to her to be representative of the authorities concerned.

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 and come into force on 8th November 2021.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Amendments to the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012

2.—(1) The Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In the heading to Part 3 after “IN RELATION TO WELFARE SERVICES” insert “OR HOUSING BENEFIT”.

(3) In regulation 6(1) (holding purposes) after “in relation to welfare services” insert “or housing benefit”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Steadman-Scott

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Work and Pensions

7th October 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1483). They are being issued free of charge as they rectify errors in those Regulations.

Regulation 2(2) and (3) make amendments to the heading to Part 3 and regulation 6(1) (holding purposes) so that the purposes for which information must be held by a local authority or other ‘qualifying person’, in order for those persons to use or supply it, encompass those relating to both ‘welfare services’ and housing benefit. See sections 131(11) and (12) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5) for the definitions of ‘qualifying person’ and ‘welfare services’.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

2012 c. 5; section 133(1) is an interpretation provision and is cited for the meaning of the word “prescribed”.

(2)

1992 c. 5; section 176(1) was amended by paragraph 23 of Schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (c. 14). There are other amendments of section 176(1) but they are not relevant to these Regulations.

(3)

S.I. 2012/1483, amended by S.I. 2013/41; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.